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saw her, one day with the Nereides.

They had

come up to the surface of the Pacific Ocean near the Line, where it was very warm, for a hunt, riding on the silver backs of their pet. dolphins. They would send one on in front, and then chase him.

"Attracted by their screams of merriment, I observed Amphitrite, who, with her hair decked with pearls and coral, far outshone her companions in beauty.

"When I asked her to be my wife, I was surprised to hear her refuse me. Perhaps she was a little taken aback with my rough ways, for at first she did not at all seem anxious to become Queen of the Seas; but I heard afterwards that an old grandfather dolphin, who was held in much respect by all the Nereides, gave her a good talking to; for she at last consented, and ever after was of course treated with me not only as supreme ruler over the oceans, but also as a goddess.

"If you should ever see my coat of arms at the Heraldic Office, you will see that there are

two dolphins rampant, supported by two Tritons, -I did this in gratitude to old grandfather dolphin."

"I wish I could make her out!" I said, when Neptune stopped talking. "Do you think you could tell me something about my Earth, if you can perceive anything so far?"

"I can see a little, but I hear more from the other planets, who are all more or less disgusted with your many new inventions and the pretty pass things have come to. I must say I'm not sorry I left before you started all those dreadful explosive machines. Why, my Tritons send

word to me now that their lives are made a perfect burden to them with all the torpedoes your sailors decorate my waters with."

"I am sorry to hear that," I answered; "I am sure we would not hurt them for worlds! Have you heard or seen anything particular about our Earth lately?"

"I shan't have time to talk to-night, my hearty; it's time for me to have my grog and turn in, but to-morrow, perhaps !

"Tol de rol, tol de rol, lol, lol, lol,

A health to the captain and officers true
And all that belong to the jovial crew

On board the Arethu-sa!'

"I'm mightily fond of your sea songs, my hearty. Good-night!" and he passed away, singing "Tol, lol, lol!"

CHAPTER XX.

WHAT NEPTUNE SAW.

A SNAKE STORY.

CHE following evening I found Neptune in apparently an unaltered position.

"Good evening, my hearty! how d'ye find yourself?"

"Quite well, thank you!" I rejoined, "and very anxious to hear all you can tell me."

"Oh yes, by the way, I was to reel you a yarn of your Earth, or rather it will be of your seas. As it is about my old friend the SeaSerpent, I will call it

"A SNAKE STORY.

"That Channel of yours, between France and England, is really becoming such a thoroughfare that, as I said before, not only are the lives of my Tritons and mermaids becoming unbearable,

but there really is no privacy at all, and they have for a long time forbidden any of their water-babies to go round that way.

"Those two men, one in a waterproof dress to float in, and one without, who so impertinently swam across, have but added to the intrusion and trespassing. The latter little knew how many of our water people swam close to him all the way over, longing to drag him down into the depths, and were only prevented from touching him, because they would not desecrate the memory of their dear playfellow, the porpoise, by imbruing their hands in his oil, with which the man was rubbed.

"It is always an aggravating sight to our merpeople, to see your land-lubbers swimming, for they say if mankind choose to move about in the water, they ought to have been made with fishes' tails like themselves, and not legs :—but I was to tell you about the Sea Serpent.

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It is a sad tale-for he is no more!

"He heard so much about the lines of electric telegraph cable laid down everywhere that he went one day to see them in the Channel. Once

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